Page 27 of You Were Mine

“Don’t talk about our daughter that way,” Logan says.

Our “daughter” doesn’t even come to greet Logan when he walks in. That little monster has been spread across the bed, sleeping all day, and she shows no sign of stirring any time soon.

I roll my eyes and seeing that he isn’t going to release me soon, I settle into his arms. “How was your first studio class?” I ask.

“It was fine,” Logan replies. “Syllabus day. The usual. Kind of disappointing.”

“That’s how they suck you in,” I say, “Syllabus day. Everything seems possible, and then you get to the middle of the semester, when everything just blows up in your face.”

“Did you hear that they shortened the semester by two weeks, too?” Logan asks.

I hadn’t heard that, and I grimace. “Sounds terrible.”

“We’ll get through it,” Logan replies, “With a lot of caffeine and booze.”

His hand pats my ass, shattering the semi-romantic mood. “I see whereyourmind is,” I reply.

“Can you blame me?” Logan asks. “I didn’t hook up with youbecauseof your looks, but they’re a nice bonus.”

I swat his shoulder and laugh. I consider complimenting his looks, which are quite nice and very much a bonus, but Logan doesn’t need anyone to stroke his already massive ego. “You’re a real Casanova,” I say. “I’m practically swooning over here.”

Logan leans forward, kisses me again, butterfly-quick, and sends warmth flooding through my face and to the tips of my ears. “I like coming home and doing that,” he says, his voice soft. “Now, are you swooning?”

Not on the outside, butdefinitelyon the inside.

“I like that part, too,” I reply. “It’s a definite step-up from your compliments of dubious merit.”

“Dubious? I said your looks were nice! What’s wrong with that?”

I roll my eyes. “They’re better than nice,” I say.

“Magnificent. Astounding. Beautiful beyond compare,” Logan pauses and winks. “Take your pick.”

“Better,” I say. “How was your day?”

“Well, it was fine, but as I was coming up the elevator, I thought of something distressing,” Logan says. “When I get my doctorate, I’m going to be Dr. Smith, which is the most generic doctor name ever, and you’re going to be Dr.Delacroix, which is way sexier. This is a problem.”

“Gee, sucks to be you,” I joke. “Sounds like I won the lottery with my last name.”

Logan’s eyes light up with mischief. “Don’t be silly. I’m thinking that I’ll marry you in however many years it takes for us to get our degrees, and then,Iwill be Dr. Delacroix.”

“Then, we’d better not teach at the same university,” I say. “Can you imagine how confusing that would be, especially since we’re both in studio art?”

Logan rolls his eyes. “Where’s the fun in not teaching at the same place?” he scoffs. “It’s only fun if we get to use our same name to screw with people.”

I roll my eyes but smile anyway. “Just so you know, this is the worst way you possibly could have chosen to propose. Do you even have a ring?”

“No,” Logan replies, “But I hadn’t really thought of it as a proposal. It’s more of a pre-proposal. Testing the waters to see what you’d say.”

Smirking, I lean forward and kiss him. I do it quickly, just like he does, and tilt my head back. My heart races. “Well, obviously, I’d have to say ‘yes’,” I reply.

“Oh,” he says, looking charmed. “Well, then. I’ll have to find a ring. You should drop some hints.”

“Hints?”

“Sure,” he replies. “Zale’s ads, that kind of thing. Christmas will be here before you know it.”

I shake my head. “To think this whole time you only wanted me for my awesome last name.”

---